US to Sign UN Gay Rights Declaration

[tekisui]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration will endorse a U.N. declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality that then-President George W. Bush had refused to sign, The Associated Press has learned.

U.S. officials said Tuesday they had notified the declaration's French sponsors that the administration wants to be added as a supporter. The Bush administration was criticized in December when it was the only western government that refused to sign on.

The move was made after an interagency review of the Bush administration's position on the nonbinding document, which was signed by all 27 European Union members as well as Japan, Australia, Mexico and three dozen other countries, the officials said.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Congress was still being notified of the decision. They said the administration had decided to sign the declaration to demonstrate that the United States supports human rights for all.

"The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and critic of human rights abuses around the world," said one official.

"As such, we join with the other supporters of this statement and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people in all appropriate international fora," the official said.

The official added that the United States was concerned about "violence and human rights abuses against gay, lesbian, transsexual and bisexual individuals" and was also "troubled by the criminalization of sexual orientation in many countries."

"In the words of the United States Supreme Court, the right to be free from criminalization on the basis of sexual orientation 'has been accepted as an integral part of human freedom'," the official said.

Gay rights and other groups had criticized the Bush administration when it refused to sign the declaration when it was presented at the United Nations on Dec. 19. U.S. officials said then that the U.S. opposed discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation but that parts of the declaration raised legal questions that needed further review.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090318/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_gay_rights

[SemiCharmedQuark]

1. Finally. Did you post this in GD?

[tekisui]

2. Yes, I crossposted it.

[pinto]

3. Kudos.

:kick:

[and-justice-for-all]

4. About damn time! nt

[ZombieHorde]

5. I am happy to read this. K&R

[Vanje]

6. Thats great! K and R! nt

[Jamastiene]

7. Yes!!!

I was furious when I heard Bush wouldn't sign on. Now, I can feel good about the US doing the right thing on this. :thumbsup:

[Duncan Grant]

8. Off to the greatest page -- k&r!

I'm happy to see some leadership. Very happy. :thumbsup:

[Zuiderelle]

9. Good news.

[Brazenly Liberal]

10. K&R! nt

[Strong Atheist]

11. K&R! nt.

[Strathos]

12. GREAT! GREAT NEWS!

Obama is coming around slowly it seems, but coming around at least.

[TEmperorHasNoClothes]

13. it's about fucking time

We know Bush is a homophobe, but how he could think it was ok for countries to kill or imprison lgbts is beyond me. How very UNchristian of him.

[tbyg52]

14. This makes me very happy. nt

[bluedawg12]

15. It's the right thing to do. Good for us. n/t

[RetiredTrotskyite]

16. Glad to See This on the Part of Pres. Obama. A Definite K&R

That's good to hear. It's about time things started to look up for all of us.